The Bulldogs will be re-introducing navy blue uniforms, a color they have not worn since the 2005-06 season.

“We all love them,” senior center Nate Fowler said at Friday’s media day. “We haven’t had the navies in a while.”

Butler players have worn black uniforms on the road throughout the 2000s, and that continues in 2018-19. Navy replaces gray as an alternate home color and could occasionally be worn away from Hinkle Fieldhouse. School colors are blue and white.

Sophomore center Joey Brunk called the navy uniforms “pretty sharp” but was mostly indifferent to color. He will wear “whatever,” he said.

“We definitely appreciate Nike taking care of us.”

Butler’s opener Nov. 10 against Miami of Ohio at Hinkle is already sold out. The Bulldogs meet Tiffin University in an exhibition Oct. 28.

Butler is coming off a 21-14 season in which it won an NCAA tournament game for the fourth year in a row. Only seven other programs have such an active streak.

"We don't know the ceiling right now," Butler coach LaVall Jordan said. "I love the guys in the locker room. I love the potential that we have. That's all there is right now, is potential."

Cooper Neese appeal denied

Cooper Neese, who transferred from Butler last October before playing a game, had an eligibility waiver denied by the NCAA. Indiana State asked that the Indiana All-Star from Cloverdale be able to play from the start of this season.

Neese must wait until Dec. 16 and will thus miss the Sycamores’ first eight games. He has completed two academic semesters. Indiana State’s statement said:

“We were hopeful that the circumstances surrounding his decision to transfer to ISU would help us obtain relief from the NCAA rule that does not allow schools to count a semester as part of a ‘year in residence’ if the student athlete is admitted after the 12th day of classes of that term.”

Etc.

Zeb Jackson, 6-2 point guard from Maumee, Ohio, canceled a scheduled weekend visit to Butler. He is ranked in the top 75 of the 2020 class. He had included the Bulldogs among his final seven. . . . Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reported the Big East and Big 12 have agreed to a challenge series between the two conferences, beginning in 2019-20. . . . Former Butler guard Shelvin Mack addressed the team this week when the Memphis Grizzlies were in town to play the Indiana Pacers. . . . Saint Louis has been picked to win the Atlantic 10. Butler visits the Billikens on Dec. 1 in a game to be televised by Fox regional networks.

Contact IndyStar reporter David Woods at david.woods@indystar.com or call 317-444-6195. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.